You've Done It!

WCTEA/WEAC File For Elections

Thanks to your strong support, we have filed with the state labor board, the Wisconsin Employment Relations Commission (WERC), the petitions for elections to re-define the WCTEA and to create a second bargaining unit:

A WCTC Part-Time United Faculty!

On January 20, 1998, WCTEA/WEAC filed the petitions for two collective bargaining elections: one to create a new WCTEA consisting of all WCTC professionals who work 50% and over; and one to create a second bargaining unit consisting of WCTC's 900+ under-50% part-time faculty.

According to procedures established by the WERC, the Union and College will meet soon to work out details, including election dates (possibly this Spring). The secret ballot election will allow us to vote to form a new WCTEA that finally eliminates the "day credit classes /6:00 p.m." issue!

Judge Upholds Our Open Records Request

In accordance with Wisconsin's Open Records law, Waukesha Circuit Court Judge John Kieffer ruled last Friday that WCTEA/WEAC's request for the addresses and phone numbers of WCTC's part-time faculty was legal, and has ordered WCTC to give us the information. The judge excluded from his ruling those part-time employees who are sworn police officers, fire fighters and EMT's.

Judge Kieffer stated that his decision deals only with this circumstance and does not require the College to release information to others. He stressed that the College may continue to treat each information request individually. In the judge's own words, "This ruling does not open the flood gates."

College Hires a Chicago Consulting Firm for $250/hour!

WCTC recently allocated taxpayer monies to pay for the services of a consulting firm that specializes in attempting to defeat employee organizing efforts. Anderson's request to the Board to authorize hiring the consulting firm says it is "to help with our side of the campaign." In their proposal to WCTC, the firm (Raymond F. Mickus and Associates, Inc.) states: "The Firm has a second-to-none record in assisting clients in maintaining their union-free positions." We are disappointed that the administration/board intends to challenge our efforts to take the very action they advocated as the proper way to address the day credit/6:00 p.m. issue.

Associate Deans to Conduct One-on-One Interviews

The consulting firm has been training and coaching WCTC administrators in techniques for one-on-one interviews with individual faculty about the organizing project. Associate deans have been instructed to conduct these interviews with all part-time faculty in their area. They may also want to interview each Part-Time II and Full-Time educator.

We regard each interview as an opportunity to share our belief that a new WCTEA, using 50% as the criteria, better fits today's reality, and is consistent with the other 15 technical colleges. A new WCTEA will eliminate the artificial delineation between day school and night school, and between credit/non-credit, that no longer exist in reality.

Your colleagues from the WCTEA Re-organization Committee will be in contact with you over the next weeks and months to answer your questions, share information, and keep all of us informed on this important topic.

Remember our goal is to act now to update a structure created in 1968, so we can move forward in 1998!

A New Day...A New Way...A New WCTEA!

WCTEA REORGANIZING STEERING COMMITTEE:

Charles Albrecht, Leigh Barker, Jeannie Lehmann, Ellen Mei, Bud Teske, Ray Walter